Oil Buyers and Big Banks Disagree on Where Prices Are Headed

Oil closed at $90.84 a barrel on July 22, far below June's $98 peak during the Iran-Israel conflict. Goldman and HSBC forecast 2026 averages of $85 and $95, citing Strait of Hormuz tensions. Prices dropped 5.31% on May 27 as U.S.-Iran talks progressed. Traders expect calm; the banks don't.